The Egyptians settled along the Nile River and their civilization lasted from 3100 B.C.E. to 350 B.C.E. Environmental factors affect where people settle. Three important factors that affect where people settle are : water, topography, and vegetation.

Geography of Egypt  The three factors were determined by each areas physical geography.  Physical geography includes mountains, rivers, valleys, deserts, climate, and the fertility of soil.

Geography of Egypt  The Egyptians settled and lived near the Northern part of the Nile river.  The Nile river created a long fertile valley that ended in a marshy delta where the river emptied into the Mediterranean sea.  Egypt is surrounded by three deserts the Libyan, Nubian, and Arabian.

Geography of Egypt  To the east of Egypt is a long channel of water called the red sea.  The area around the red sea much like Egypt is surrounded by the Nubian and Arabian desert.

Geography of Egypt  Most of ancient Egypt settled near the Nile River because the Nile was a source of fresh water that was mostly desert.  The Nile River provided natural irrigation and fertilization.  With fresh water there was more fish to catch and animals to hunt.  The abundant wildlife in the regions included fish, ducks, geese, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, and ostriches.

Geography of Egypt  The topography of Egypt encouraged human settlement.  There were wide flat areas of the land around deep bends in the river. This was food for farming. Wide plains were also watered by the Nile’s annual flooding.

Geography of Egypt  Vegetation was rare in the desserts but plentiful in the Nile River Valley. Useful plants were the Papyrus, which was used to make rope and paper.  The rich farmland was used for growing crops like Wheat and Barley.